by Bob Nightengale , USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale , USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates acted like they've been here before, but their victory Tuesday night, 4-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers, signified a feat they haven't celebrated in 21 years.

The Pirates ended the longest losing streak in North American sports, winning their 81st game, and for the first time since 1992, are assured the ugly streak is over.

"All that negativity,'' says Pirates All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who hit his 100th career homer "we don't have to think about it anymore.

"We're here to win a World Series.

"We're one step closer.''

The Pirates didn't set out this spring to end the losing streak. Their goal was to make the playoffs and win a division title for the first time since 1992, reach the World Series, and win a championship for the first time since 1979.

Certainly, they are getting close to that playoff goal. They have a 10-game lead to clinch a playoff berth, and a two-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central race.

"There should not be a celebration here until this team clinches,'' said right fielder Marlon Byrd, who drove in two runs and is hitting .346 since joining the Pirates last week. "It's as simple as that. I haven't heard anything about a .500 season since I've been here.

"All I've heard about is the playoffs.

"There are two goals here. Getting to the playoffs, and then winning the whole thing. Then, we can celebrate.''

The Pirates have been sick of talking about the losing streak, and no one has been subjected to more questions about the streak than Pittsburgh native Neil Walker since he was drafted in 2004.

If nothing else, now they now have accomplished the one goal that really means everything to them.

They no longer have to talk about it.

The streak is dead.

"As players, it's just a number,'' Walker said, "so we're not too fired up about it. But at the same time, a person like myself, that's been so endeared to Pirates baseball since I can remember, this is pretty cool.

"Having been a part of, and knowing the struggles that have gone for the last two decades, it's a cool day.